JOHN 13:1-20 Lesson # 27
GETTING CLEAN ON HIS TERMS
I.? Introduction:
Note:? Tonight we are going to look at the famous foot washing episode, when Jesus washes the disciples feet.? We often think of humility when we think of such an event and some think humility is one of the most important virtues in the Christian life.
Q? Do you agree, is humility a necessary virtue to live the Christian life?
Q? What do you mean by humility?
Q? Can you give examples of it in real life that you have seen?
Q? Is it easy to be humble?
Q? How does one become humble?
An = Lets see what the Lord teaches us in this important area….
II.? Washing the Disciples Feet:? The Necessity of Humility.? John 13:1-11
A.? Setting to the Story:? Jesus’ Awareness and Satan’s Activity.? John 13:1-3
>>>>? Have someone read John 13:1
Q? What does Jesus know?
An = Where He was going, that He was going to His Father.? He was also leaving this world, i.e. Jesus knew His death was near.
Q? What else do we learn about Jesus in the verse?
An = That He loved His own to the very end.?
>>>>? Have someone read John 13:2?
Q? Who else is active in this crucial moment and what is he doing?
An = The devil is active getting one of Jesus’ men to betray Him.? In the midst of all of ministry’s greatest difficulties and struggles we face betrayal from our closest brethren.
Q? What happens to the attitude of someone who is betrayed, what does it do to them?
An = They usually become bitter, suspicious and less trusting and thus pull away from people.
>>>>? Have someone read John 13:3
Q? What else does our author stress, what about Jesus is spoken of?
An = Again, it speaks of what Jesus knows.? He knows God has given Him authority, that He came from God and was going back to God.? Jesus knows who He is.? If we know who we really are, we can be like Him in what He does next, an utter act of humility.
Q? So, what verse 3 teach us about how to gain humility?
An = Really knowing who we are in Christ.? Maybe our self esteem is based not on His acceptance, or His washing of our sins, or His love but based on our relationship visa-ve others, or our accomplishments.? Perhaps the presence or the lack thereof of humility reveals how we really see things despite what we say we believe theologically.
B.? The Washing of the Disciples Feet and Dialogue with Peter:? John 13:4-10
>>>>? Have someone read John 13:4-5.
Q? What is extraordinary about Jesus’ actions?
An = It is amazing humility.? Washing men’s feet that wore sandals was a degrading thing usually done only by servants.? Jesus takes a servant role.?
Note:? >>> Have someone read Luke 22:24.? Barclay (p. 161) points out that Luke tells us that just before Jesus is arrested the disciples are arguing over who is the greatest in the coming kingdom.? Perhaps, Barclay speculates, since they did not have servants, none of the disciples was willing to take the demeaning servant role, so Jesus solved their problem.
>>>>? Have someone read John 13:6-7.
Q? Why does Peter ask this question, what could be going on in His mind?
An = He is amazed, perhaps shocked and surprised and does not understand what Jesus is doing.
Q? How does Jesus answer?
An = It is OK to ask about what you do not understand, and understanding will come, but in the mean time you need to trust.
Q? How important is it to God that we trust Him when we do not understand what He is doing?
An = Perhaps, it becomes one of the sweetest moments to Him, that we trust Him.
>>>>? Have someone read John 13:8
Q? How has Peter’s attitude turned?
An = He is now in defiance.? He refuses to wait until understanding comes.? He will not allow His master to wash His feet.
Q? What do you think Peter is resistant to Jesus’ actions?
Q? What do you think of Jesus’ response in verse 8?? How does Jesus answer?
An = Jesus says you allow me to serve you or you will have no part of Me.? This is not optional.? Jesus is insistent, threateningly so.
Q? Why is Jesus so unrelenting?
An? Perhaps, Peter knows he is going to become a leader in the kingdom and if the head of the kingdom is doing this, then so will he, and Peter does not want to encourage such a precedent.? Perhaps, Peter does fells comfortable with an experience.
>>>> Have someone read John 13:9-11.
Q? What is Peter trying to do now?
An = Perhaps, to wiggle in some remainder of his pride.? It is as if Peter is struggling for some type of control and Jesus is refusing to allow any room for it.? What God offers to do for us is sufficient.? It seems letting God serve you, cleanses you.? His act of humility is our sufficient cleansing.? We need nothing else.? He defines the extent of the service.?
Q? Can you share an example of when it has been hard to receive something humbly given to you?
Q? Can you share an example of when it has been hard to receive something from God?
Q? Jesus adds one more agenda just before He finishes His speech, what is it?
An = He mentions that though Jesus washed and served all of the disciples not all of them were clean.? He is speaking of Judas.?
Q? Jesus’ work was not totally affective, what act seems to leave still unclean?
An = Our betrayal.? He takes betrayal very seriously.? It can undue His salvific act.
Q? How believers (Judas was part of the apostolic band) betray Jesus today?
III.? Jesus’ Interpretation of the Washing and Teaching On Betrayal:? John 13:12-20.
A.? Teaching on the Foot Washing:? Humility Modeled.? John 13:12-17
>>>> Have someone read John 13:12.
Q? What kind of question is Jesus’ opening?? Why does He ask it?
An = It is a rhetorical question and He is asking them to think.? He does not wait for an answer because it is not a real question but a call to think about what He has done.
>>>> Have someone read John 13:13-14.
Q? How has Jesus interpreted His action.? Why does He want of them?
An = He is modeling for them what type of leaders they are to be.? This is very similar to John 10:11.? True leadership is servant leadership.
>>>> Have someone read John 13:15-17.
Q? How does Jesus justify His exhortation to be like Him?
An = First of all He says “be like Me” (15-16) and secondly he says you will be blessed if you do this (17).
Q? What does it mean, according to 15-16, if we refuse to serve those we lead?
An = If we refuse to be servant we think ourselves greater than Jesus or He is not our Lord or Teacher.? If we refuse we state to the world that Jesus is either “misguided” or we “refuse to let Him teach us”.? Either way we demean Him.? We spit in His face.
Q? What does verse 17 teach us about spiritual wisdom?
An = Knowing spiritual truth does not bless us until we do it.
B.? Teaching on His Prophesy of Betrayal:? John 13:18-20
>>>> Have someone read John 13:18
Q? What does “eats My bread” signify?
An = In the Old Testament, it referred to employment and it implied intimacy.
Q? Does it comfort you that even Jesus was betrayed despite His perfection and sinlessness?
Q? How does being betrayed do to someone?
Q? What is Jesus saying here in verse 18 about those who do acts of betrayal?
An = God cannot be fooled.? God knows tonight if you are a phony or not.? He knows who in your family, or church, or here in this school, is phony or not, who is going to betray Him.? It is comfort to know that God is not fooled.
Note:? He is also saying servant behavior cannot change all, it cannot cleanse betrayers.? Therefore, even if we are faithful servant leaders it does preclude us from suffering this same painful situation.?
>>>> Have someone read John 13:19.
Q? Why does Jesus speak of Judas’ coming action?
An = For our sakes.? This way the disciples could later see that Jesus was indeed aware of all that was going on.? It helped bluster their faith.
>>>> Have someone read John 13:20
Q? What is Jesus doing here and what does this teaching have to do with betrayal?
An = The One Judas betrayed was not just Jesus His Rabbi, but God who sent Him.? When we are betrayed in our ministry those who betray us not only betray us, but Jesus and therefore God.?
Q? Is it dangerous to betray you if you are acting His service?
An = When we are betrayed we feel so worthless and alone, but we are not worthless nor alone (we are one with Him in His suffering) and if we are innocent and doing His work, they have betrayed God.
IV.? In Closing
RQ? Is a place where you are refusing to serve?? Choose to submit as we close in prayer.? Your refusal to serve invalidates your relationship to Jesus.
RQ? Is betrayal part of your experience?? Talk to Him about this, He knows what you feel.
RQ? Have you betrayed the Lord or one of His servants?? Repent fast, ask God how to make it right as we close in prayer because it invalidates His cleansing